"No, one thousand is enough," I adopted my usual cynical stance at the shopkeeper in front of me.
"I can't do that, miss. As you can see this is an antique, this is made from pure gold and real rubies."
"What an antique? Please, sir, you can do better than that," was what I was going to say but I held myself back.
So instead I blurted out, "Sir, it's not that I'm doubting you, but as you can see, among all of the things that you sell, you only have one antique. I mean, is that logical? Your shop isn't an antique shop either."
His shop was among a tiny parade of shops. This street had rows of souvenir shops, and only this one that had a wood-painted sign reading 'Everything under 1000'. I should have guessed when I saw not many tourists came to his shop. This man was one petty scammer.
"Your sign says 'Everything under 1000', so this bracelet should be around that price as well, or I can say that you're gauging the price," I said, crossing my arms and tapping my foot.
Beads of cold sweat glistened on the shopkeeper's forehead, he looked as though he was about to pass out. He opened his mouth, then closed back. Probably couldn't come up with any retort.
"This is indeed the only antique I sell in my shop," he stammered at last, letting out a quiet sigh. "This is from my great-great-great grandmother's master's belonging. If I am not in need of money, I won't have taken this out, too."
"Sir, don't be ridiculous," I snapped with a defensive flare that made the shopkeeper staring at me in sudden, genuine fear. I realized that I was overreacted, and the next moment I found myself smiling, but inside I was seething. I went to my sling bag for my wallet, I said, "Then, how about I pay you by cash? But the price is still one thousand."
***
Happily looking at the so-called antique on my arm, I was glad I spotted it with my sharp eyes before any hawk eyed girls snatched it away. The bracelet looked a little shabby, but with a bit polishing it would show its worth. The beautiful red stones—real rubies, claimed the scammer shopkeeper—were encased in floral patterns, and linked with each other on a gold infinity loop. I was never a fan of gemstones, but this delicate bracelet caught my eye as if it was calling me take it home. Now that this bracelet circling my wrist, I found it really was beautiful.
It was all easy and straightforward. And the best thing was, I managed to buy this illusive heirloom bracelet at such a low price! You just had to do things like being very attentional to little details instead of nodding to every word that the seller told you. I mean, with this scheme you could get anything at a low price. For my past experience, all sellers love easy money. The tactic was never ever tell them your lowest limit, taunt them.
Hah! Only five more days before my vacation ends. Thinking about that I wished that the month never ends. I dreaded going back to the boring work life doing boring things all day long.
I sometimes wish I could escape from this boring life to one full of excitement and adventure.
It was already evening when I finished touring around all the famous spots.
I came out of a shop which was part of a residential complex. Satisfied with my latest purchase I beamed and looked around while thinking whether I should do something fun before going back to my hotel.
"LOOK OUT!!"
"Eh?" I heard an old man screaming out, waving his arms frantically. "What's wrong—Argh! Aaaaargh!"
I wasn't sure what was happening but I felt a sharp and intense pain on the top of my head. Then, as I started falling, my thoughts rushed with disbelief: Who the bloody hell crashed something on my head. I scrabbled desperately at the lamp post, scraping my skin, stretching my hand, grabbing for anything, but I couldn't stop myself—
Oh shit.
The ground was coming straight toward me—in a dreadful slomo way—and there was nothing I could do. Bloody hell, this is going to hurt...
I felt dizzy as the world around me was slowly plunged into darkness.
To my concentration, I noticed that my head was smacked by a pot. Ugh! Gross. I had just washed my hair, and now it was drizzling with dirt. Who the hell shove that thing on me—intentional or not—I swore I was going to get back at whoever that damn guy was.
Apparently it was the death for that guy. I had a bit of knowledge regarding law, and as far as I was concerned I could sue that person. Finding a lawyer shouldn't be a problem.
Sure, my reaction time wasn't the best, I wasn't some kind of a seasoned warrior. For God's sake, I was a normal woman on my vacation. Seemed like I was going to be hospitalized for the rest of my holiday then. What a mess!
There shouldn't be any problem, right? I mean, there shouldn't be any aftereffects just because my head got hit by a pot. I didn't want to suffer from any disease like amnesia or stroke. I barely ran away from the verge of death due to overwork by having my first time ever vacation in the last five years working nonstop.
No, my luck wouldn't be that bad. Or else, I might have missed out on finding the true meaning of my life, especially finding my significant other. No one would want to date a disabled person—unless it was true love, if it exists.
——
Anyway, how long had I been asleep? Was it morning?
My head felt so rough.
What was this sound I was hearing?
Umm… It sounded like people chanting. Had the locals saved me and this was some kind of their speciality in healing?
Whatever that was, it seemed working. I wasn't that all woozy anymore.
I couldn't even open my eyes. They felt heavy and stuck down, like that time I used fake lashes with some low-priced glue from the market, then when I started blinking, my eyes glued shut. Barely opening.
Cautiously, I moved a hand up to my chest and heard a rustle of sheets. There was a weird burnt joystick smell in the air, and I was wearing—what was this? It didn't feel like my soft cottony T-shirt. It was something I didn't recognize. Where was I?
Hey. I didn't actually get kidnapped by some wacky cult, did I?
Did I actually become paralyzed? That was why I felt so bruised and sore—No, I could still move my hands. Maybe I should get up and have a shower…
With a huge effort I wrenched my eyes open and inclined my head a few inches.
Shit. What the hell—
I was lying at some strange place. The whole place was pitch black, there were only dim little solar lights at intervals, and streams of moonlight drawn from the windows, making the pools of blackness in between more inky.
With an inward gulp, I saw a group of cloaked people were standing around in circles. For a moment, their heads bent around the flickering light of the candle. I had the strangest impression that this was exactly what a wacky cult would do. Their little rituals.
Oh shit. Did I just find myself becoming some offering? My heart clutched in my chest. Dread was churning in my stomach as I waited to see if they had realized I was awake.
A tiny voice inside me screamed, 'I have to escape from this weird place'. I frantically looked around. I froze, just for a moment. Then, the sound of a door opening, walking footsteps. Another bunch of cloaked people went inside.
Thank God! This might be my only chance at escaping!
Hang on. If I suddenly went out like this, they would be suspicious and chase me. In my current state, I was still too weak to run, and these cloak guys would catch me easily without draining a bit of their strength. Out the corner of my eyes, I saw a creepy black cloak lying not far from where I was lying. Yes, I should disguise myself.
Attentively, I fumbled for the creepy black cloak.
Another horrendous chanting came from those groups of cloaked people. It was getting longer, louder, rising to an awful pitch. Somehow, it filled me with an ominous feeling that I couldn't explain.
I didn't have much time left. My head swiveled to sides, and I quickly changed into that cloak.
Looked like they hadn't noticed.
As I approached the door, I tried my best to blend myself with those other cloaked weirdos, making my way through the little crowd. It wasn't like they would search for a cloaked girl that missed their ritual.
I was already out of the place. Luckily there weren't any stairs or else I would have taken much more energy in running. I didn't look back or notice with surroundings, my limp legs kept on stretching forward. My only concern was to escape from this hellish place.
Cold nervous sweat trickled down the back of my neck. It was then my eyes caught a glimpse of a grey colored building which looked like a temple up ahead in my way.
I didn't want to enter some seemingly uncanny temple but I had no choice since there was no other possible route I could take.
I drew in a long breath and entered the eerie looking temple. As expected, the place seemed empty of people. Another place that was so dark. There were hardly any candles lit inside. But thanks to the bright moonlight, I was able to rely on it like a torch to not get lost.
I didn't run inside the temple, but tried my best to steady my steps and sneak out of the temple.
Who knows if there are other cloaked weirdos in the temple? The last thing I wanted is to end up back at the place I woke up.
"Mmmmmh!" I suddenly felt someone clamp my mouth tightly, a hand shoved me away, throwing me across the dark place. I slammed into the wall, every bone in my body rattling.
Ow.
I blinked my eyes, my mind skittering around in ghastly thoughts.
Shit. No way. I came all this way with my body about to rip apart, did it all go for nothing?